Vehicle having a frame provided with a supporting structure for auxiliary units, in particular gas tanks or electric batteries

Abstract

A light duty vehicle includes a vehicle frame, including a pair of vehicle longitudinal beams connected to each other by a plurality of cross-members and a cabin frame, having a pair of cabin longitudinal beams rigidly connected to front ends of the vehicle longitudinal beams. A supporting structure for auxiliary units, such as gaseous fuel tanks or electric batteries, which is carried by the vehicle frame, and includes an auxiliary frame extending between the vehicle longitudinal beams and having connection plates arranged in vertical planes parallel to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle frame and which are in contact with mutually facing inner lateral walls of the vehicle longitudinal beams and are rigidly connected to these longitudinal beams. The auxiliary frame fulfills a structural function equivalent to the structural function of one or more cross-members at an area of the vehicle frame where the cross-members are omitted.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A light duty vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle frame, comprising a first pair of longitudinal beams connected to each other by a plurality of cross-members, 
 a cabin frame, comprising a second pair of longitudinal beams rigidly connected to front ends of the first pair of longitudinal beams of the vehicle frame, 
 at least one supporting structure for auxiliary units carried by the vehicle frame, 
 said supporting structure for supporting the auxiliary units comprises an auxiliary frame which extends between the first pair of longitudinal beams of the vehicle frame and has at least two connection plates arranged in vertical planes parallel to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, 
 said connection plates of the auxiliary frame are in contact with mutually facing inner lateral walls of said first pair of longitudinal beams of the vehicle frame and are rigidly connected to said first pair of longitudinal beams of the vehicle frame, 
 so that said auxiliary frame fulfills a structural function equivalent to the structural function of one or more of said plurality of cross-members at an area of the vehicle frame where said plurality of cross-members are not provided or are omitted for leaving space for the auxiliary frame, and are therefore replaced by the latter, 
 wherein said connection plates of the auxiliary frame are provided with flanges which project from said connection plates and constitute abutment elements in engagement against lower walls of the first pair of longitudinal beams of the vehicle frame, 
 wherein the auxiliary frame has a quadrangular configuration including two longitudinal arms and two transverse arms rigidly connected to each other and further comprising at least one cross-member which connects the two longitudinal arms to each other and which has its ends carrying said connection plates arranged in vertical planes parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle frame, and 
 wherein said at least one cross-member of the auxiliary frame is in a form of a hollow beam, with an upper wall, a lower wall, two lateral walls and end surfaces to which said connection plates are rigidly connected. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein said connection plates have portions projecting outwardly with respect to a cross-section of the at least one cross-member which are provided with holes or threaded bushes for engagement of screws for rigid connection to the first pair of longitudinal beams of the vehicle frame. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle according to  claim 1 , which is for housing a plurality of gaseous fuel tanks having a substantially cylindrical shape, wherein said at least one cross-member of the auxiliary frame has concave lateral walls configured for defining a seat for respective gaseous fuel tanks arranged in a horizontal position with their axes arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle frame, and
 wherein securing belts, for securing the plurality of gaseous fuel tanks to the auxiliary frame, are associated to each lateral wall. 
 
     
     
       4. The vehicle according to  claim 3 , wherein the vehicle comprises a counter-frame comprising a third pair of longitudinal beams extending above the first pair of longitudinal beams of the vehicle frame, and rigidly connected thereto, and another plurality of cross-members which connect the third pair of longitudinal beams of the counter-frame to each other, said counter-frame acting as a spacer element for avoiding a direct contact of the plurality of gaseous fuel tanks with a vehicle floor panel. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle according to  claim 3 , wherein the vehicle comprises one or more auxiliary frames, each auxiliary frame being provided for supporting one or more of the plurality of gaseous fuel tanks.